Throughout June and July, visitors and residents of Maryland's bear country may encounter more bear sightings than they would at other times of the year. Will Vitka | wvitka@wtop.com. Download the WUSA9 app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips. Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter:Your forecast. If a bear does get into your trash cans, you can lock the lids down tightly (this can prove difficult), secure them by bringing them inside of a shed, closed in area or garage, if you have one, until your trash pickup occurs. Maryland's Department of Natural Resources is out with a fresh warning this month that black bears in the state are emerging from their winter dens. Try and make yourself look larger by holding your arms in the air above your head. If you meet a bear at close range, speak to it in a calm, assertive voice, wildlife experts advise. Virginia 2022-2023 Black Bear Harvest | Virginia DWR Be bear aware: Bear sighting in Ashburn prompts safety among residents, Rare sighting of coyote at National Malls East Potomac Park, Bear scare: Increased wildlife encounters are an unexpected outcome of the pandemic. We dont get them inside the Beltway as often, Eyler said. Given that this system remains in place, chances are the state record for the largest bear ever caught in Maryland may change hands again sometime in the future. The largest bear ever caught in Maryland was shot in 2007 by Coty Jones near Swallow Falls in Garrett County. Consider installing bear-proof trash cans and dumpsters on your property if you live in an area with a lot of bears. Since 2016, bears have injured two people in Maryland according to Harry Spiker, the black bear project leader and biologist for Maryland's Department of Natural Resources. These tools can scare or drive off bears and give you the time you need to escape the area. Weve reached out to both the U.S. I just wanted to go out and give it a big, old hug, Lessans said of the bear she encountered Tuesday. The bear was spotted in suburban Frederick, Maryland, near Braddock Avenue., Hymes Avenue, Hillcrest Drive, N. Jefferson Street and W. Patrick Street. Over the next few decades, the black bear population in the state slowly recovered. It was tranquilized and relocated to western Montgomery County. Basically, weve got what equates to some confused teenage bears, explained Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) State Black Bear Biologist Harry Spiker. Talk of UFOs and . DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Black Bear Today, Maryland operates one bear hunting season per year, typically in late October. (WJZ) -- An unexpected visitor caused quite a stir in Frederick over the. Olympic Sports, Savage Love Its that time of the year again were Black Bear sightings are increasing throughout Maryland, including here in Harford County. Officials advised the public to remove any items that would attract black bears, including garbage, bird feeders and grills with grease. He found his way in, he can find his way out.". Earlier today, Washington City Paper got a hot tip about an apparent sasquatch sighting in the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, Md. Keep meat scraps in the freezer until garbage pickup day. Before joining WTOP, he worked for CBS News, Stuff Magazine, The New York Post and wrote a variety of booksabout a dozen of them, with more to come. Freelancers Guide Like most eastern states, Maryland was once home to the eastern mountain lion but none remain today. We exist for one reason, to protect wildlife. Bear sightings in Boulder County increase from 2021 The bear sighting. I saw what I thought was a bear and so I pulled over to take some pictures, he says. The largest bear ever caught in Maryland weighed 615 pounds. Maryland's Department of Natural Resources. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, more tips for living with black bears online, US to focus bison restoration on expanding tribal herds. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Missouri Black Bears | Missouri Department of Conservation June 17, 2021 Black Bears Roam Far and Wide in Seasonal Movements Bear sighting near Barton in Allegany County, June 2016. Bears may try to bluff or scare you by roaring, false charging, or stamping the ground. Additionally, a black bears muzzle often appears light brown, and many feature white patches on their bodies. Public record for March 1, 2023. Prosecutor, Natural Light Pours Into $859K Clarksville Home With Transom Window, $1.3M Opens Up For Residents Struggling To Pay Rent In Howard County, Biz'tastic Friday: Wells Fargo Opens New Branch & Art Craft Convention on "Charm'tastic Mile". Maryland Bear Sightings Increase During Summer Months June 17, 2021 Black Bears Roam Far and Wide in Seasonal Movements Throughout June and July, visitors and residents of Maryland's bear country may encounter more bear sightings than they would at other times of the year. The tipster, Jeremywho asked us not to publish his last nametells City Desk that yesterday morning, as he was driving on Brock Bridge Road near Suburban Airport, he spotted what he thinks is a sasquatch. However, in recent years, bear sightings have increased in the eastern part of the state. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. Then, around 7 a.m. Tuesday, she saw the black bear eating from it. If you spot a bear cub, remain alert. There were several reports of black bear sightings in the Silver Spring area in June 2016. Im not crazy., Carol Lessans, a resident of Silver Spring, Md., filmed a bear as it explored her backyard and munched on seeds from a bird feeder on May 24. This shot was taken near Jefferson and Patrick streets. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. This is not the first time a bear has been spotted in this area, confirmed Susan M. Smith, Village Manager with the River Hill Community Association. FORT WASHINGTON, MD -- Beware if you're out and about in the Fort Washington area: a bear has been spotted wandering through neighborhoods, according to a report. Only black bears are native to Maryland, and no records exist to suggest that grizzlies or polar bears ever lived in the state. Successful applicants will receive a permit valid for the four-day hunting season, taking place Oct. 23-26 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties. Most bears would not try a swim like that, but some will. James Spadola, a spokesman for the Newark Police . Keep reading to find out! If you persist in feeding during summer, remove seed, suet and hummingbird feeders at night. Often seen as human-killers, Black Bear attacks are actually incredibly rare, with an estimated hundreds of thousands of black bears inhabiting North America, approximately 100 deaths that have been recorded in the last 100 years. Compost vegetable scraps properly away from house. The best way to survive a bear encounter is to avoid them altogether. According to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, there have been a total of 35 alleged sightings in Maryland since 1970. Reduce garbage odors. 'Homesick' black bear treks 90 miles back to Northern - mlive Basketball Black bear population management is necessary to reduce human-bear conflicts and damage caused by black bears. If you plan to hunt bear in the following GMUs: 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 203, 204, 209, 215, 418, or 426 you must successfully complete the WDFW bear identification test or equivalent test from another state and carry proof of . 31 sightings of black bears in southern Wisconsin since March Her home, along Cutstone Way, backs up to a heavily wooded area near Route 200, so she and her husband are used to seeing foxes and birds, including the occasional wild turkey. The region had 617 . Today, the state is known for its diverse economy, including industries such as technology, biotechnology, and tourism. Bear sightings are down in Colorado, but they're up in areas affected And users were already busy posting sightings this June. Today, you can find black bears throughout the western half of the state, but more and more people are reporting bear sightings in eastern Maryland. If you encounter a bear that is not aware of your presence, back away and leave the area. A bear simply showing up somewhere is not itself a threat and bears will not be relocated just because they show up around where people live. These diverse habitats provide homes to an estimated 90 mammal species, 93 reptile and amphibian species, and over 400 species of birds. The bear she shot qualified as the largest bear ever recorded in Maryland. Promote human safety, protect agricultural income, protect personal property, and address conflicts between humans and bears. Thanks to land preservation efforts we now have better bear habitat than we have had for a long time. Fast, informative and written just for locals. Loose Lips Silverback Gorillas vs Grizzly Bears: Who Would, Watch the Worlds Bravest Dog Chase Away, The 9 Best Books About Bears Safety Tips and Species Insights Reviewed and Ranked, black bears muzzle often appears light brown, Black bears have all the physical tools needed to pose a danger, bear can break bones with a blow from its paws and possess a bite force, Bear Quiz - 1,049 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz, Watch This Grizzly Bear Dominate a Massive Elk in the Middle of a River, An Absolutely Gigantic Moose Makes These Grizzlies Look Like Teddy Bears, Watch an Injured Elk Outsmart a Grizzly Bear, Send It Tumbling, and Escape to a Nearby River, Watch a Fearless Bear Charge and Tackle a Bowhunter, Discover the Largest Bear Ever Caught in Maryland. A crowded bear may huff or make a woofing noise at the threat. Terms & Conditions The statewide population of bears is estimated to be over 4,500 animals and is growing and expanding eastward. Through education and doing what we can to protect even the largest of species, we can coexist peacefully. Spiker said his agency receives about 450 reports of bear sightings from concerned residents annually. Cpl. Black bears are scavengers, so this may not work, but its worth a shot if you think your life is in danger. Black bears can survive in a wide range of habitats but occur most often in mixed forests and riparian zones. "He's in an environment that he's not comfortable with anyway, and allowing him to navigate his own way through that area is usually is the best outcome. In the meantime, however, Spiker said it might not be uncommon for our visitor to travel across rivers, meaning a visit to Calvert or St. Marys Counties is not out of the question. Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! Keep barbecue grills and picnic tables clean. The department will issue 750 hunting permitsRead the Rest, Homeowners, Campers Should Avoid Attracting Ursine Guests Black bears are starting to leave their dens after a long winter slumber in a search for food. We reported on several sightings in that region as well as South and Northeast Texas throughout 2020 and into spring 2021. According to the DNR, the bears are most commonly found in Maryland's four westernmost counties: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington.